Aseptic joints

ABSTRACT

An aseptic joint has a sealing gasket interposed between the flanges of two pipe ends, there being a rubber ring around the gasket to form an annular steam chamber between the rubber ring and the OD of the gasket, and there being means including a steam inlet and outlet nipple with a dam between for continuously circulating steam throughout the length of the steam chamber. A clamping ring acts on the flanges of the two pipe ends to engage the gasket and rubber ring therebetween, the clamping ring having a slot through which the steam nipple projects.

United States Patent Bruno H. Werra Waukesha, Wis.

July 9, 1969 Feb. 16, 1971 Ladish Co.

Cudahy, Wis.

a corporation of Wisconsin Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented AssigneeASEPTIC JOINTS 10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl. 385/41; 285/367 F16l 53/00 Primary Examiner-Dave W. ArolaAn0rneyMorsell & Morsell ABSTRACT: An aseptic joint has a sealing gasketinterposed between the flanges of two pipe ends, there being a rubberring around the gasket to form an annular steam chamber between therubber ring and the OD of the gasket, and there being means including asteam inlet and outlet nipple with a dam between for continuouslycirculating steam throughout the length' of the steam chamber. Aclamping ring acts on the flanges of the two pipe ends to engage thegasket and rubber ring therebetween, the clamping ring having a slotthrough 364, 365, 366, 367, 425; 137/334, 241 which the steam nippleprojects.

44 4% Z5 1'2 23 4- Z/ Z6 4/ 25 2 Z2 s4 24 w a 55 30 24' Z 57 /7 2/ i 3,3a 52 4 1 5e 5 I l 3 E' I Human FEB 615a" 3563571 INVENTOR BRUNOH'.WERRA ATTORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the InventionThe present invention is adapted for use in the joints of conduitsthrough which food is being pumped in liquid or semiliquid condition. Ii

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore, when liquid food productsare being pumped through a conduit under considerable pressure, some ofthe food material may find its waythrough a joint in the pipe linesufficiently far to become contaminated by external bacteria. Thesebacteria might later find their way back through the food product, andthrough the joint, into the food inside of the pipe line with resultingcontamination. Also, under a vacuum condition in the conduit, externalbacteria might migrate through the pipe line joint into the food whichis inside of the pipe linewith resulting contamination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION of the flanges to provide an annular'groovewithin which a rubber ring is received, the latter having a crosssection to provide an annular steam chamber surrounding the plasticgasket.

The rubber ring has a nipple for'accommodating inlet and outlet ductswith a dam between, which ducts communicate with said annular steamchamber. Clamping means such as a split clamping ring serves toremovably hold the joint in assembled condition and said clampingring'has an opening for accommodating the nipple.

An object of the invention is to provide, in a pipe line joint, anannular steam chamber which is so located that bacteria entering fromthe outside will be steam sterilized before they can come in contactwith the food-product within the pipe line. i

A further object of the invention isto provide an aseptic joint havingsuch steam chamber and which includes the use of a sealing gasket, theparts being readily removably held in assembled condition.

A further object of the inventionis to provide an aseptic joint whichmay be quickly disassembled for separate cleaning or replacement ofparts, and which is easily reassembled.

A further object of the invention is to provide an aseptic joint whichis relatively simple in construction, and otherwise well adapted for thepurposes described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of theimproved aseptic jointand all of its parts and combinations, as setforth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the accompanying drawing,illustrating one complete embodiment of the preferred formof theinvention, in which the same reference numerals designate the same partsin all of the views:

FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view through a pipe line looking at oneend of the aseptic joint, parts being broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the and shown in section;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing part of the rubber ringnear the steam connections.

joint, parts being broken away DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTReferring more particularly to the drawing, the numerals I and 11indicate aligned conduits of the type through which a food product inliquid or semiliquid condition may be pumped. Usually such conduit isformed of stainless steel. The conduit has an outwardly directed annularflange 12 (see FIG. 3) having a tapered inner face 13 and having astraight outer face 14 provided with an annular groove 15. The pipesection 11 has an outwardly projecting annular flange 16 provided with atapered inner face 17 and with a straight outer face 18 provided with acircular groove 19.

Between the faces 14 and 18 is a ring-shaped gasket 20 formed of anysuitable material. It is preferred to use a slightly flexible,relatively hard plastic material such as Teflon," which is heatresistant. The gasket has end faces with circular beads 21 which are sopositioned and of such size as to fit into the circular recesses 15 and19 of the pipe flanges when the gasket is in assembled position. Thiswill hold the gasket 20 with its ID flush with the ID of the pipes 10and 11 and with its OD terminating intermediate the length of the pipeflanges l2 and 16.

, Within the annular space which is disposed outwardly of the OD of thegasket 20 and between the flanges 12 and 16 is a flexible ring 22 ofmolded rubber or molded synthetic rubber material, hereinafter termedrubberlike material, which is rectangular in cross section, as shown inFIG. 3, to provide side faces 23, there being an annular steam chamber24 between the ring 22 and the OD of the gasket 20. The rubber ring 22is preferably bonded to a metal ring 25 of stainless steel or the like.Projecting radially outwardly of the rubber ring and through a slottedopening 26 of the metal ring 25 is an integral nipple 27 of the samematerial as the ring 22. This nipple has a steam inlet passageway 28 anda steam outlet passageway 29, both of which communicate with the steamchamber 24. The rubber ring has a dam 30 which projects inwardly to seatagainst the OD of the gasket 20, as shown in FIG. 1. This is locatedbetween the steam inlet 28 and the outlet 29 to cause the steam enteringthe inlet 28 to circulate around the ring before it exits from the steamoutlet 29.

The flanges 12 and 16 may be clamped together in any suitable manner.However, it is preferred to use a quickly manipulatable clamping ring31, as shown in FIG. 1, which has sections hinged to hinge elements 32as at 33 and 34. The clamping sections have outwardly projecting lugs 35and 36 opposite the hinge. A threaded bolt 37 has one end pivoted to thelug 35 and is swingable into and out of an open ended slot 38 in the lug36. A nut 39 may be'manipulated .to draw the ends of the clamping ringtogether. The clamping ring has flanges 40 provided with internaltapered faces 41 which coact with the tapered faces 13 and 17 of thepipe flanges to draw the flanges toward one another into tightengagement with the gasket 20 and with the side faces 23 of the rubberring at 22. The clamping ring has a slotted opening 42 through which therubber nipple 27 projects.

An inlet conduit 43 leading from a suitable source of steam has atubular projection 44 which may be removably inserted in the inletpassageway 28 of the rubber nipple. An outlet conduit 45 for the steamhas a tubular projection 46 which is removably insertable in the steamoutlet 29 of the rubber nipple 27. Thus steam may be discharged throughthe outlet conduit 45 after it has circulated nearly 360 in the annularsteam chamber 24 of the joint.

In use, steam is kept circulating into and out of the joint while foodis being pumped through the conduits 10, 11 at the relatively highpressure commonly used in this type of equipment. l'leretofore, becauseof the pressure from the pump, there was always the possibility of someof the food material working through the joint and getting contaminatedby bacteria from the exterior, which could then work its way back intothe pipe line by way of the escaping food product. Conversely, shouldthe conduit for some reason develop a vacuum condition, externalbacteria could migrate through the pipe line joint and contaminate thefood product in the conduit. With the present invention, any bacteriawhich might enter the joint from the outside would be sterilized bysteam in the chamber 24 of the joint or by steam from said chamber whichforced its way between the faces 23 of the rubber ring and the outerfaces of the metal flanges of the pipe line. The inner peripheralportions of the flexible ring 22 will not fit tightly against the OD ofthe gasket 20, so that steam under pressure from the chamber 24 will beforced between the inner peripheries of the flexible ring 22 and gasket20, and between the faces 23 and the faces 14 and 18 of the flanges, sothat any bacteria which might enter from the exterior will be contactedby steam and sterilized before they could work through the joint betweenthe gasket and the flanges to the interior of the pipe line to contactthe food product therein.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to theexact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

lclaim:

1. In a pipe line having adjacent end portions located at a joint, saidend portions having outwardly projecting annular flanges, a ring-shapedgasket between and sealingly engaging said flanges, means at said jointforming an annular steam chamber between said flange and gasket, meansfor circulating steam through said chamber, said chamber being sopositioned around the joint that bacteria entering the joint from theexterior are sterilized by steam before they can pass the gasket toenter the interior of the pipe line, and means for detachablymaintaining the pans in assembled condition at said joint.

2. An assemblage as claimed in claim 1 in which the outside diameter ofthe gasket is less than the outside diameter of the flanges to leave anannular space between outer portions of the flanges, and wherein meanswhich forms the annular steam chamber is located in said annular space.

3. An assemblage as claimed in claim 2 in which the means which formsthe annular steam chamber is a flexible ring having spaced annular sidefaces, and in which said flexible ring is located in said annular spacewith the side faces of the flexible ring against the flanges of the pipeends, the steam chamber being between the flexible ring and the outsidediameter of the gasket.

4. An assemblage as claimed in claim 3 in which the outside diameter ofthe flexible ring is bonded to a wider metal ring having annularportions on each side of the flexible ring which seat against the outerperipheries of the flanges of the pipe ends.

5. An assemblage as claimed in claim 3 in which the flexible ring has anoutwardly projecting nipple having inlet and outlet passageways for thesteam.

6. An assemblage as claimed in claim 4 in which the flexible ring has anoutwardly projecting nipple having inlet and outlet passageways for thesteam, and in which said metal band has a slot through which the nipplepro jects.

7. An assemblage as claimed in claim 1 in which the op posed faces ofthe flanges of the pipe ends have circular grooves, and in which thegasket has circular ribs of such size and so positioned as to fit withinthe grooves while maintaining the internal diameter of the gasket flushwith the internal diameter of the pipe line.

8. An assemblage as claimed in claim 3 in which the means for detachablymaintaining the parts in assembled condition is a clamping ring whichcoacts with the flanges of the pipe ends, said ring having a slot, andin which the flexible ring has a nipple which projects through the slotof said clamping ring, said nipple having outlet and inlet passagewaysfor steam.

9. An assemblage as claimed in claim 2 in which there is a dam acrossthe annular steam chamber, and in which the means for circulating steamthrough said chamber includes an inlet communicating with the steam'chamber on one side of the dam and an outlet communicating with thesteam chamber on the other side of the dam.

10. An assembled as claimed in claim 2 in which the gasket is formed ofa relatively hard, slightly flexible material, and in which the meanswhich forms the annular steam chamber is formed of a relativelyflexible, resilient rubberlike material.

1. In a pipe line having adjacent end portions located at a joint, saidend portions having outwardly projecting annular flanges, a ring-shapedgasket between and sealingly engaging said flanges, means at said jointforming an annular steam chamber between said flange and gasket, meansfor circulating steam through said chamber, said chamber being sopositioned around the joint that bacteria entering the joint from theexterior are sterilized by steam before they can pass the gasket toenter the interior of the pipe line, and means for detachablymaintaining the parts in assembled condition at said joint.
 2. Anassemblage as claimed in claim 1 in which the outside diameter of thegasket is less than the outside diameter of the flanges to leave anannular space between outer portions of the flanges, and wherein meanswhich forms the annular steam chamber is located in said annular space.3. An assemblage as claimed in claim 2 in which the means which formsthe annular steam chamber is a flexible ring having spaced annular sidefaces, and in which said flexible ring is located in said annular spacewith the side faces of the flexible ring against the flanges of the pipeends, the steam chamber being between the flexible ring and the outsidediameter of the gasket.
 4. An assemblage as claimed in claim 3 in whichthe outside diameter of the flexible ring is bonded to a wider metalring having annular portions on each side of the flexible ring whichseat against the outer peripheries of the flanges of the pipe ends. 5.An assemblage as claimed in claim 3 in which the flexible ring has anoutwardly projecting nipple having inlet and outlet passageways for thesteam.
 6. An assemblage as claimed in claim 4 in which the flexible ringhas an outwardly projecting nipple having inlet and outlet passagewaysfor the steam, and in which said metal band has a slot through which thenipple projects.
 7. An assemblage as claimed in claim 1 in which theopposed faces of the flanges of the pipe ends have circular grooves, andin which the gasket has circular ribs of such size and so positioned asto fit within the grooves while maintaining the internal diameter of thegasket flush with The internal diameter of the pipe line.
 8. Anassemblage as claimed in claim 3 in which the means for detachablymaintaining the parts in assembled condition is a clamping ring whichcoacts with the flanges of the pipe ends, said ring having a slot, andin which the flexible ring has a nipple which projects through the slotof said clamping ring, said nipple having outlet and inlet passagewaysfor steam.
 9. An assemblage as claimed in claim 2 in which there is adam across the annular steam chamber, and in which the means forcirculating steam through said chamber includes an inlet communicatingwith the steam chamber on one side of the dam and an outletcommunicating with the steam chamber on the other side of the dam. 10.An assembled as claimed in claim 2 in which the gasket is formed of arelatively hard, slightly flexible material, and in which the meanswhich forms the annular steam chamber is formed of a relativelyflexible, resilient rubberlike material.